mh_parser/vol_split/4 - Numbers/Chapter 29.xml

<div2 id="Num.xxx" n="xxx" next="Num.xxxi" prev="Num.xxix" progress="79.05%" title="Chapter XXIX">
<h2 id="Num.xxx-p0.1">N U M B E R S</h2>
<h3 id="Num.xxx-p0.2">CHAP. XXIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Num.xxx-p1">This chapter appoints the offerings that were to
be made by fire unto the Lord in the three great solemnities of the
seventh month. I. In the feast of trumpets on the first day of that
month, <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.1-Num.29.6" parsed="|Num|29|1|29|6" passage="Nu 29:1-6">ver. 1-6</scripRef>. II. In
the day of atonement on the tenth day, <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.7-Num.29.11" parsed="|Num|29|7|29|11" passage="Nu 29:7-11">ver. 7-11</scripRef>. III. In the feast of tabernacles
on the fifteenth day and the seven days following, <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.12-Num.29.38" parsed="|Num|29|12|29|38" passage="Nu 29:12-38">ver. 12-38</scripRef>. And then the
conclusion of these ordinances, <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.39-Num.29.40" parsed="|Num|29|39|29|40" passage="Nu 29:39,40">ver. 39, 40</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Num.xxx-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.29" parsed="|Num|29|0|0|0" passage="Nu 29" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.xxx-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.1-Num.29.11" parsed="|Num|29|1|29|11" passage="Nu 29:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.29.1-Num.29.11">
<h4 id="Num.xxx-p1.7">Solemnities of the Seventh
Month. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1452.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxx-p2">1 And in the seventh month, on the first
<i>day</i> of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye
shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto
you.   2 And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet
savour unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p2.1">Lord</span>; one young
bullock, one ram, <i>and</i> seven lambs of the first year without
blemish:   3 And their meat offering <i>shall be of</i> flour
mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, <i>and</i> two
tenth deals for a ram,   4 And one tenth deal for one lamb,
throughout the seven lambs:   5 And one kid of the goats
<i>for</i> a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:   6
Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and
the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink
offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a
sacrifice made by fire unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p2.2">Lord</span>.   7 And ye shall have on the tenth
<i>day</i> of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall
afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work <i>therein:</i>  
8 But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p2.3">Lord</span> <i>for</i> a sweet savour; one young
bullock, one ram, <i>and</i> seven lambs of the first year; they
shall be unto you without blemish:   9 And their meat offering
<i>shall be of</i> flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a
bullock, <i>and</i> two tenth deals to one ram,   10 A several
tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:   11 One
kid of the goats <i>for</i> a sin offering; beside the sin offering
of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat
offering of it, and their drink offerings.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxx-p3">There were more sacred solemnities in the
seventh month than in any other month of the year, not only because
it had been the first month till the deliverance of Israel out of
Egypt (which, falling in the month Abib, occasioned that to be
thenceforth made the <i>beginning of the months</i> in all
ecclesiastical computations), but because still it continued the
first month in the civil reckonings of the jubilees and years of
release, and also because it was the time of vacation between
harvest and seedtime, when they had most leisure to attend the
sanctuary, which intimates that, though God will dispense with
sacrifices in consideration of works of necessity and mercy, yet
the more leisure we have from the pressing occasions of this life
the more time we should spend in the immediate service of God. 1.
We have here the appointment of the sacrifices that were to be
offered on the first day of the month, the day of <i>blowing the
trumpets,</i> which was a preparative for the two great solemnities
of holy mourning on the day of atonement and of holy joy in the
feast of tabernacles. The intention of divine institutions is well
answered when one religious service helps to fit us for another and
all for heaven. The <i>blowing of the trumpets</i> was appointed,
<scripRef id="Num.xxx-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.23.24" parsed="|Lev|23|24|0|0" passage="Le 23:24">Lev. xxiii. 24</scripRef>. Here the
people are directed what sacrifices to offer on that day, of which
there was not then any mention made. Note, Those who would know the
mind of God in the scripture must compare one part of the scripture
with another, and put those parts together that have reference to
the same thing, for the latter discoveries of divine light explain
what was dark and supply what was defective in the former, <i>that
the man of God may be perfect.</i> The sacrifices then to be
offered are particularly ordered here (<scripRef id="Num.xxx-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.2-Num.29.6" parsed="|Num|29|2|29|6" passage="Nu 29:2-6"><i>v.</i> 2-6</scripRef>), and care taken that these
should not supersede the daily oblation and that of the new moon.
It is hereby intimated that we must not seek occasions to abate our
zeal in God's service, nor be glad of an excuse to omit a good
duty, but rather rejoice in an opportunity of accumulating and
doing more than ordinary in religion. If we perform family-worship,
we must not think that this will excuse us from our secret
devotions; nor that on the days we go to church we need not worship
God alone and with our families; but we should <i>always abound in
the work of the Lord.</i> 2. On the <i>day of atonement.</i>
Besides all the services of that day, which we had the institution
of, <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.16.1-Lev.16.34" parsed="|Lev|16|1|16|34" passage="Le 16:1-34">Lev. xvi.</scripRef>, and which,
one would think, required trouble and charge enough, here are
burnt-offerings ordered to be offered, <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.8-Num.29.10" parsed="|Num|29|8|29|10" passage="Nu 29:8-10"><i>v.</i> 8-10</scripRef>. For in our faith and
repentance, those two great gospel graces which were signified by
that day's performances, we must have an eye to the glory and
honour of God, which was purely intended in the burnt-offerings;
there was likewise to be a <i>kid of the goats for a sin-offering,
besides the great sin-offering of atonement</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxx-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.11" parsed="|Num|29|11|0|0" passage="Nu 29:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), which intimates that there are
so many defects and faults, even in the exercises and expressions
of our repentance, that we have need of an interest in a sacrifice
to expiate the guilt even of that part of our holy things. Though
we must not repent that we have repented, yet we must repent that
we have not repented better. It likewise intimated the imperfection
of the legal sacrifices, and their insufficiency to take away sin,
that on the very day the <i>sin-offering of atonement</i> was
offered, yet there must be another sin-offering. But <i>what the
law could not do, in that it was weak,</i> that Christ has
done.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxx-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.29" parsed="|Num|29|0|0|0" passage="Nu 29" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.xxx-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.12-Num.29.40" parsed="|Num|29|12|29|40" passage="Nu 29:12-40" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.29.12-Num.29.40">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxx-p4">12 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month
ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and
ye shall keep a feast unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p4.1">Lord</span>
seven days:   13 And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a
sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p4.2">Lord</span>; thirteen young bullocks, two rams,
<i>and</i> fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without
blemish:   14 And their meat offering <i>shall be of</i> flour
mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the
thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,
  15 And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen
lambs:   16 And one kid of the goats <i>for</i> a sin
offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering,
and his drink offering.   17 And on the second day <i>ye shall
offer</i> twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the
first year without spot:   18 And their meat offering and
their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the
lambs, <i>shall be</i> according to their number, after the manner:
  19 And one kid of the goats <i>for</i> a sin offering;
beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof,
and their drink offerings.   20 And on the third day eleven
bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without
blemish;   21 And their meat offering and their drink
offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs,
<i>shall be</i> according to their number, after the manner:  
22 And one goat <i>for</i> a sin offering; beside the continual
burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
  23 And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, <i>and</i>
fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:   24 Their
meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the
rams, and for the lambs, <i>shall be</i> according to their number,
after the manner:   25 And one kid of the goats <i>for</i> a
sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat
offering, and his drink offering.   26 And on the fifth day
nine bullocks, two rams, <i>and</i> fourteen lambs of the first
year without spot:   27 And their meat offering and their
drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs,
<i>shall be</i> according to their number, after the manner:  
28 And one goat <i>for</i> a sin offering; beside the continual
burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
  29 And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, <i>and</i>
fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:   30 And
their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for
the rams, and for the lambs, <i>shall be</i> according to their
number, after the manner:   31 And one goat <i>for</i> a sin
offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering,
and his drink offering.   32 And on the seventh day seven
bullocks, two rams, <i>and</i> fourteen lambs of the first year
without blemish:   33 And their meat offering and their drink
offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs,
<i>shall be</i> according to their number, after the manner:  
34 And one goat <i>for</i> a sin offering; beside the continual
burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.  
35 On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do
no servile work <i>therein:</i>   36 But ye shall offer a
burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p4.3">Lord</span>: one bullock, one ram,
seven lambs of the first year without blemish:   37 Their meat
offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram,
and for the lambs, <i>shall be</i> according to their number, after
the manner:   38 And one goat <i>for</i> a sin offering;
beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his
drink offering.   39 These <i>things</i> ye shall do unto the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p4.4">Lord</span> in your set feasts, beside your
vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and
for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your
peace offerings.   40 And Moses told the children of Israel
according to all that the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxx-p4.5">Lord</span>
commanded Moses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxx-p5">Soon after the day of atonement, that day
in which men were to afflict their souls, followed the feast of
tabernacles, in which they were to rejoice before the Lord; for
those that <i>sow in tears</i> shall soon <i>reap in joy.</i> To
the former laws about this feast, which we had, <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.23.34-Lev.23.44" parsed="|Lev|23|34|23|44" passage="Le 23:34-44">Lev. xxiii. 34</scripRef>, &amp;c., here are added
directions about the <i>offerings by fire,</i> which they were to
offer unto the Lord during the <i>seven days of that feast,</i>
<scripRef id="Num.xxx-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.33.36" parsed="|Lev|33|36|0|0" passage="Le 33:36">Lev. xxiii. 36</scripRef>. Observe
here, 1. Their days of rejoicing were to be days of sacrifices. A
disposition to be cheerful does us no harm, nor is any bad symptom,
when it is so far from unfitting us for the duties of God's
immediate service that it encourages and enlarges our hearts in
them. 2. All the days of their dwelling in booths they must offer
sacrifices. While we are here in a tabernacle-state, it is our
interest as well as duty constantly to keep up communion with God;
nor will the unsettledness of our outward condition excuse us in
our neglect of the duties of God's worship. 3. The sacrifices for
each of the seven days, though differing in nothing but the number
of the bullocks, are severally and particularly appointed, which
yet is no vain repetition; for God would thus teach them to be very
exact in those observances, and to keep an eye of faith fixed upon
the institution in every day's work. It likewise intimates that the
repetition of the same services, if performed with an upright
heart, and with a continued fire of pious and devout affection, is
no weariness to God, and therefore we ought not to snuff at it, or
to say, <i>Behold, what a weariness it is to us!</i> 4. The number
of bullocks (which were the most costly part of the sacrifice)
decreased every day. On the first day of the feast they were to
offer thirteen, on the second day but twelve, on the third day
eleven, &amp;c. So that on the seventh they offered seven; and the
last day, though it was the great day of the feast, and celebrated
with a holy convocation, yet they were to offer but one bullock;
and, whereas on all the other days they offered two rams and
fourteen lambs, on this they offered but one ram and seven lambs.
Such was the will of the Law-maker, and that is reason enough for
the law. Some suggest that God herein considered the infirmity of
the flesh, which is apt to grudge the charge and expense of
religion; it is therefore ordered to grow less and less, that they
might not complain as if God had <i>made them to serve with an
offering,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.43.23" parsed="|Isa|43|23|0|0" passage="Isa 43:23">Isa. xliii.
23</scripRef>. Or it is hereby intimated to them that the legal
dispensation should wax old, and vanish away at last; and the
multitude of their sacrifices should end in one great sacrifice,
infinitely more worthy than all of them. It was on the last day of
the feast, after all these sacrifices had been ordered, that our
Lord Jesus stood and cried to those who still thirsted after
righteousness (being sensible of the insufficiency of these
sacrifices to justify them) <i>to come unto him and drink,</i>
<scripRef id="Num.xxx-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:John.7.37" parsed="|John|7|37|0|0" passage="Joh 7:37">John vii. 37</scripRef>. 5. The
meat-offerings and drink-offerings attended all the sacrifices,
<i>according to their number, after the manner.</i> Be there ever
so much flesh, it is no feast without bread and drink, therefore
these must never be omitted at God's altar, which was his table. We
must not think that doing much in religion will be accepted if we
do not do it well, and after the manner that God has appointed. 6.
Every day there must be a sin-offering presented, as we observed in
the other feasts. Our burnt-offerings of praise cannot be accepted
of God unless we have an interest in the great sacrifice of
propitiation which Christ offered when for us he made himself a
sin-offering. 7. Even when all these sacrifices were offered, yet
the continual burnt-offering must not be omitted either morning or
evening, but each day this must be offered first in the morning and
last in the evening. No extraordinary services should jostle out
our stated devotions. 8. Though all these sacrifices were required
to be presented by the body of the congregation, at the common
charge, yet, besides these, particular persons were to glorify God
with their vows and their free-will offerings, <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.29.39" parsed="|Num|29|39|0|0" passage="Nu 29:39"><i>v.</i> 39</scripRef>. When God commanded that this
<i>they must do,</i> he left room for the generosity of their
devotion, a great deal more they <i>might do,</i> not inventing
other worships, but abounding in these, as <scripRef id="Num.xxx-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.30.23-2Chr.30.24" parsed="|2Chr|30|23|30|24" passage="2Ch 30:23,24">2 Chron. xxx. 23, 24</scripRef>. Large directions
had been given in Leviticus concerning the offerings of all sorts
that should be brought by particular persons according to the
providences of God concerning them and the graces of God in them.
Though every Israelite had an interest in these common sacrifices,
yet he must not think that these will serve instead of his vows and
his free-will offerings. Thus our ministers' praying with us and
for us will not excuse us from praying for ourselves.</p>
</div></div2>